Austin, Texas – January 17, 2012 – Hollywood and Broadway award-winners Kaye Ballard, Liliane Montevecchi, and Lee Roy Reams are to star in “Doin’ It For Love,” a Broadway-style tribute to the standards and the stories behind the music. Opening its Southwest Tour in Austin on February 24, 2012, “Doin’ It For Love” features a 10-piece orchestra conducted onstage by David Geist, the show’s music director. Hilary Knight, the internationally renowned artist and illustrator, designed the poster art and collectables for the show. Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) is hosting the show with 100 percent of the profits to benefit its programs promoting the humane treatment of animals.Combining Ballard’s musical talent, comedic wit and timing, Montevecchi’s inimitable French cabaret-style performances, and Reams’s song-and-dance routines, “Doin’ It For Love” is a two-act show that opens with a one-of-a-kind rendition of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Following the opening number, each performer will star turn his or her section. Montevecchi and Reams will individually entertain the audience with newly staged performances of their most memorable musical numbers. After a short intermission, Ballard opens the second act. Her unforgettable stage presence naturally peppered with laugh-out-loud one-liners and heartfelt emotion brings to life the emblematic routines and songs of the Great White Way. All three stars return to the stage for the show’s grand finale. “Texas Humane Legislation Network is honored to benefit from this incredible show that will offer Austin audiences a chance to experience the timeless acts and performances from some of the most beloved entertainers in show business all while benefitting a great cause,” said Monica Hardy, executive director of Texas Humane Legislation Network, a Texas-based nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals through legislation, education, and advocacy. “THLN has been working to promote the humane treatment of animals since 1975 through public education, outreach and new state laws. Events like these help us to share our message and encourage Texas residents to make informed decisions and take action to help end animal cruelty and neglect throughout the state.”Kaye BallardBallard starred on Broadway in “The Golden Apple,” “Carnival,” “Molly,” “Pirates of Penzance,” “Gypsy,” “Funny Girl,” “Nunsense,” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies.” She has been in numerous films including “The Girl Most Likely,” “A House Not A Home,” “Freaky Friday,” “Which Way To The Front,” and “The Ritz.” Ballard has guest-starred in television programs as well including “The Doris Day Show,” “The Muppet Show,” “Match Game,” “The Tonight Show,” “The Carol Burnett Show,” and the live telecast of Rodger & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” In addition, she co-starred with Eve Arden in the NBC sitcom “The Mothers-in-Law” which was recently re-released on DVD. Liliane MontevecchiThe recipient of a Tony Award for her portrayal of Liliane La Fleur in “Nine,” Montevecchi began her career as a prima ballerina. Inspired by dance, she started a film career in the 1950s and starred in “King Creole” with Elvis Presley, “Meet Me in Las Vegas” with Cyd Charisse, “The Sad Sack” with Jerry Lewis, and “The Glass Slipper.” She left Hollywood for a leading role in “Follies Bergère.” Montevecchi’s Broadway credits include starring in “Nine,” “Grand Hotel,” “La Plume de Ma Tante,” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies.” She also appeared in the films “Wall Street” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Montevecchi recently starred in “Love, Chaos and Couture” and is currently performing at Teatro ZinZanni in the critically acclaimed “Bonsoir Liliane!,” directed by nine-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune. Lee Roy ReamsNominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the original Broadway production of “42nd Street,” Reams has starred in several Broadway shows including “Show Boat,” “Hello, Dolly!,” “Oklahoma!,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Producers,” and others. He has also directed several shows including “An Evening with Jerry Harman.” Reams made his Broadway debut in 1966 in “Sweet Charity” and was most recently featured in the 2011 documentary “Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age.”Hilary KnightKnight designed the art for “Doin’ It For Love.” Among his other theater posters, he created “Gypsy,” “Irene,” “Hallelujah Baby!” “From Broadway with Love,” and “Sugar Babies.” Knight has illustrated more than 60 books and worked for a variety of clients, including Nieman Marcus, for which he designed the cover of the 2012 Christmas catalog. Also in 2012, he created a mural for Dee and Tommy Hilfiger’s apartment in New York’s Plaza Hotel, home of the illustrious Eloise, the creation of Knight and author Kay Thompson. His work can also be seen in art galleries throughout New York City.David GeistGeist has starred in several Broadway shows including “Cats,” “Les Miserables,” “Wicked,” and “The Lion King.” He has performed alongside and coached Hugh Jackman, Sarah Brightman, and Michael Crawford among other top performers in the music industry, and worked with composing legends Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Matt Berman is the show’s lighting and sound designer and Rocky Noel is the stage manager. “Doin’ It For Love’s” orchestrator, Larry Blank, was twice nominated for both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for his orchestrations in “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” Patrick O’Neil is also working on the orchestration for the show.Starring alongside Ballard and Montevecchi, Reams will stage the show. “I am honored to perform and work with two of show business’ most celebrated performers. ‘Doin’ It For Love’ tells the personal stories behind the music by Kaye, Liliane, and myself. Not only do we perform the music, but entertain the audience with stories about the entertainment world then and now,” said Reams. “We are premiering the show in Austin to give audiences the first glimpse of what is sure to become a hit, and working to promote the ethical treatment of animals is very important to each of us.” Ballard, Montevecchi, and Reams kick off the “Doin’ It For Love” Southwest Tour at the historic Paramount Theatre, located at 713 Congress Avenue, on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25. Doors open at 7 p.m. and shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price between $35 and $100, plus applicable service fees, and can be purchased at the Paramount Theatre, by telephone at (512) 474-1221, or online at the Paramount Theatre’s website by visiting www.austintheatre.org. Commemorative “Doin’ It For Love” theater posters created by Knight, show programs, and CDs can also be purchased at the show with the proceeds raised from the collectables going to THLN. Following its premiere in Austin, the show will tour the Southwest with shows at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas, on March 3 and March 4, and at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 9 and March 10.

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